2009 Ghent Winter Bar Tour

February 28th, 2009

LET'S CRAWL! On Saturday, February 28th we will hold the 2009 Ghent Winter Bar Tour and attempt to break our own record as the most successful charity pub crawl in America set last winter. We fully expect to "sell out" all of our 1000 participant spots and raise some serious money for a fantastic local charity - the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Eastern Virginia! Our largest annual pub crawl plans to journey once again down Colley Avenue, 21st Street, and the surrounding locale in the historic midtown Norfolk neighborhood of Ghent from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM. Details on who's participating, how to register, and what to do at the event will be posted below as that information becomes available. So keep checking back for more information - this is one event that you and all your friends will not want to miss!

Sponsor Bars & Businesses

We are working to get back all of the TWELVE bars and restaurants that participated in our last wintertime bar tour as well as trying to rope in one or two new locations. If you know of or work at a location that would like to be a part of this upcoming event, please see our sponsorship page.

Bar Tour Registration

Registration is required for participation in the 2009 Ghent Winter Bar Tour. Registration will be available online starting January 1st. Please note that our registration fee structure has changed from that of some previous events. The fee is set to automatically increase as the number of registered participants increases - the longer you wait, the more you will have to pay. For your registration fee, you receive the following in your registration bag at the event:

Wristband*
Long sleeve t-shirt
Souvenir cup
Magnet
Keychain bottle opener
Koozie
Guide map of bar tour locations
Other promotional items

* Wristband serves as proof of participation to receive food and drink specials available only to registered participants at sponsoring establishments

All registration materials must be picked up the night before the event at the pre-registration pickup point or the day of the event (February 28, 2009) at the registration booth between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PARTICIPATE!

Fun & Games

We are holding several competitions during this tour for those that seek adventures beyond simple "wining and dining". Below are details on these games. Prizes will be awarded for competition winners, some small ones along the way and other larger ones at our closing ceremony.

Texax Hold 'Em Tournament - This game is currently being revamped in order to make it even more fun for all participants. Check back for updates as the event gets closer!
Bar Tour Bingo - Visit ALL participating locations on the bar tour and receive a prize! Volunteers at each location will place a sticker on your map indicating you visited that stop. Prizes can be picked up at the end location starting at 8:00 PM until supplies run out.
50/50 Cash Raffle - Win back your bar tab! The winner takes home half of the money from ticket sales (the other half goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation®). Raffle tickets will be sold at the registration booth as well as at the closing ceremony. Bring your tickets with you to the end location where the winner will be announced and cash prize awarded.
Prize Raffle - Win cool prizes! All participants are automatically entered to win non-cash raffle prizes. Just make sure to come to the end location and see if the number on your wristband matches the ones we pull from the raffle box.

Special thanks to all of the local businesses who have been so kind to make donations of products and/or services in support of this charity event. If you have a product or service (or know a business that does) and are willing to donate it as a competition prize, please contact us through this site.

Supported Organization

All proceeds from this event went directly to the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Eastern Virginia. This local Make-A-Wish chapter serves all of Hampton Roads, the Peninsula, Williamsburg, Emporia, Franklin, York, James City, Sussex, Isle of Wight, Surry, Greensville & Southampton counties and the Eastern Shore. The mission of the Make-A-Wish Foundation® is to grant wishes to children between the ages of 2½ and 18 who have life threatening medical conditions. The organization provides a bright moment of hope, strength, and joy for a child in what can sometimes be a dark routine of treatments, doctors and hospital visits. Many thanks to the Make-A-Wish staff for their support in planning this event as well as previous events.